Israel Vows to “Hit the Enemy Hard” After Rocket Fire Kills 12 in Golan Heights

Tensions in the Middle East escalated on Sunday as Israel vowed to take strong action against Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement after a rocket fire killed 12 young people in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights. The incident has sparked fears of a wider conflict spreading from the Gaza Strip.

The rocket fire, which was condemned by the United Nations, is believed to have been launched by Hezbollah, an Iran-backed group that has regularly targeted Israeli military positions. Israel’s military has blamed Hezbollah for the attack, while the group has denied any involvement.

The incident has prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to return from the United States and hold an emergency security cabinet meeting. Netanyahu has vowed to “hit the enemy hard” and has given his defense minister the authority to decide on the response to the attack.

The Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967, is home to a population of Arabic-speaking Druze who have not accepted Israeli nationality. The rocket fire hit a football pitch in the town of Majdal Shams, killing children aged 10 to 16. An 11-year-old boy who was earlier reported missing was confirmed as the 12th fatality.

The incident has raised concerns of a wider conflict spreading from the Gaza Strip, where Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 39,324 people, according to the health ministry. The UN special coordinator for Lebanon has warned that intensifying exchanges of fire could ignite a wider conflagration that would engulf the entire region.

Iran has warned Israel against any new military adventures in Lebanon, saying it could lead to “unforeseen consequences.” Israel’s foreign ministry has accused Hezbollah of deliberately targeting civilians, calling the incident a “massacre.”

The conflict has also raised concerns of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where a UN agency has reported that only 14 percent of areas are not subject to evacuation orders. The agency has accused Israel of creating “havoc and panic” with frequent evacuation orders.

Despite months of effort, a ceasefire in Gaza has yet to be reached. Egyptian state-linked media reported that talks would take place in Rome on Sunday. The US has called for a ceasefire, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying it was the best way to prevent the conflict from escalating.